Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi faced a sharp political offensive from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on 31 August, a day after an FIR was registered against him at Haldwani City Kotwali in Uttarakhand. The BJP accused the Congress leader of pursuing divisive politics, while Congress dismissed the case as a politically motivated witch hunt targeting Gandhi's advocacy for Dalits and the Constitution.

The FIR and Its Background

The case was registered on 30 August following a complaint filed by Amit Kumar, a resident of Jawahar Nagar Colony in Haldwani and a member of the Scheduled Caste community. The FIR was lodged at Haldwani City Kotwali. No further details of the specific allegations in the complaint have been officially disclosed beyond what was stated at the time of registration.

What the BJP Said

Bihar Minister and BJP leader Ram Kripal Yadav said Gandhi was 'worried' about his political future and was attempting to convert the matter into a political issue. 'Rahul Gandhi ji is a little worried these days. He is unable to see his future and is in the dark. So, in search of his future, he keeps doing something or the other,' Yadav said.

Yadav also questioned the purpose of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's recent visit to Haldwani, alleging it was an attempt to politicise the legal proceedings.

BJP leader Narottam Mishra, speaking in Bhopal, launched a direct attack, saying: 'It is his job to divide castes. It is his job to spread hatred. He has no other job.'

Shiv Sena Rejects Vendetta Charge

In Mumbai, Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC rejected claims that the FIR amounted to political vendetta. 'The FIR is not a matter of political vendetta. If there is somebody from the Dalit community who has filed a complaint, then the court has taken cognizance of it,' she said.

Shaina NC also urged Gandhi to familiarise himself with the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, adding that complaints involving alleged misuse of the law or grievances over untouchability must be addressed within the existing legal framework.

Congress Hits Back

Punjab Congress Vice President Rajkumar Verka, speaking in Amritsar, said the BJP had grown 'anxious' over Gandhi's sustained pitch against what Congress describes as the ruling party's divisive politics. 'I feel that the BJP is anxious, and Rahul Gandhi, who is protecting Dalits... He is trying to protect the Constitution of the country,' Verka said.

Verka termed the FIR an 'insult to Dalits' and to the Constitution, warning that his party would not tolerate what he called interference with constitutional values. Congress characterised the legal action as an attempt to weaken Gandhi's outreach among marginalised communities.

Political Context

This is not the first time Gandhi has faced legal proceedings that have drawn sharp partisan responses. The escalating rhetoric on both sides reflects the broader contest over Dalit identity politics ahead of upcoming state elections. Notably, the complaint was filed by a member of the very community Gandhi has positioned himself as a champion of — a detail both sides are invoking to frame the narrative in their favour.